Ava's Little Heroes tradition continues at Animal Adventure Park

Jordan and Colleen Patch are thankful that their daughter, Ava is healthy and happy this holiday season.
Patrick Oehler/Staff Video

Colleen and Jordan Patch pose with 18-month-old daughter Ava during Ava's Little Heroes, a fundraiser Saturday at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville. Inspired by Ava’s battle with a brain condition, Ava’s Little Heroes raises awareness and funds for a local family with a child engaged in their own fight.(Photo: THOMAS LABARBERA)

There's a tradition at Animal Adventure Park that started before April the giraffe gave birth in front of a live global audience, before the park doubled its staff and before it became a worldwide travel destination.

In 2016, park owner Jordan Patch and his wife, Colleen, hosted the first Ava's Little Heroes fundraiser at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, an event that returns for its third incarnation on Aug. 19.

In the first seven months of their firstborn daughter's life, the Patches endured an endless cycle of uncertainty and fear punctuated by baby Ava's infantile spasms with no clear answer behind them — doctors would later determine Ava was born with a rare genetic condition called Aicardi syndrome.

Ava's fight generated support for the Patches from the community and beyond; many reached out to the new parents on social media upon hearing their story, offering their support, sharing their own stories and visiting the park — some traveled several hours to get there.

Colleen and Jordan Patch pose with 18-month-old daughter Ava during Ava's Little Heroes, a fundraiser Saturday at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville. Inspired by Ava’s battle with a brain condition, Ava’s Little Heroes raises awareness and funds for a local family with a child engaged in their own fight. THOMAS LABARBERA

“We were overwhelmed by offers of support during our time of need,” Jordan Patch said in a 2016 pressconnects/Press & Sun-Bulletin story. “Instead of accepting those offers for ourselves, we were inspired to help others that may be facing a similar unexpected situation. Having met many families during our hospital stays, we wanted to pay it forward.”

“No words will ever be enough to thank this community enough for the kindness and generosity they showed my wife and I when our Ava needed it most," Patch said in a statement Thursday. "It’s our hope that the families we’ve selected this year will feel that same level of love and support."

Four families, whose names have not yet been released by the park, will benefit from this year's event, which will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at the park, on Martin Hill Road in Harpursville.

There will be prize auctions, children's activities, live music and vendors on site. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite heroes.

"We want these families to be able to focus on their children’s health during this difficult time, rather than experiencing financial stress," Patch said. "These funds will alleviate the pressures of medical bills and travel expenses."

For the Patch family, along with the fundraising event's growth and Animal Adventure Park's resident giraffe's latest pregnancy fervor, there's a very special reason to smile: Ava has been seizure-free since undergoing life-changing surgery in October.

From left, Ava, Colleen and Jordan Patch inside the visitors center at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville on November 13, 2017. Ava had brain surgery on October 24th to correct a seizure disorder. Patrick Oehler/Staff Photo

From left, Colleen, Ava and Jordan Patch inside the visitors center at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville on November 13, 2017. Ava had brain surgery on October 24th to correct a seizure disorder. Patrick Oehler/Staff Photo

Colleen Patch holds her daughter, Ava inside the visitors center at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville on November 13, 2017. Ava's incision from her surgery on October 24th to correct her seizure disorder is still healing. Patrick Oehler/Staff Photo

Animal Adventure park owner Jordan Patch and his 4-month-old daughter Ava feed the park's giraffes for the first time. Ava was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a rare birth defect where the two hemispheres of the brain are not connected. ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo

Animal Adventure Park Owner Jordan Patch holds his 4-month-old daughter Ava. Ava was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a rare birth defect where the two hemispheres of the brain are not connected. ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo

Colleen Patch holds her daughter Ava at the Animal Adventure Park. Ava was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a rare birth defect where the two hemispheres of the brain are not connected. ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo

Stephanie Majercik of Conklin, N.Y., feeds a giraffe a carrot at Animal Adventure in Harpursville, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. April, a 15-year-old giraffe at the park, has been in the final stages of pregnancy since Jan. 27, 2017. Thomas La Barbera, (Binghamton, N.Y.) Press & Sun-Bulletin